Best Places to Live in New Jersey 2013

Our bi-annual ranking of the best places in the Garden State to call home.

Peter and Cindy Burke, with grandsons Gabriel, left, and JP, on the stoop of the West Main Street colonial they purchased 38 years ago. The Burkes enjoy the atmosphere and their neighbors. "They still sit on porches and talk," says Cindy. "That's the Main Street feel here."

Photos by Michael Yamashita

We’ve crunched the numbers, and here are the results: The Best Places to Live in New Jersey.

Our exclusive rankings (published in September 2013) are based on the most recent available data for home prices, property taxes, crime rates, school results and various lifestyle attributes. (Watch for new rankings in September 2015!)

Warren: Top Town, Central Jersey
Volunteerism is a way of life in Warren, and the people of the top Central Jersey town make it what it is. From the coaches in the recreation department to emergency services personnel to Warren’s various boards and commissions, the vast majority of hours are put in by volunteers.

Moorestown: Top Town, South Jersey
Moorestown, our top South Jersey town, fancies itself a town of winners. In 2013, the girls’ high school lacrosse team ranked number 1 nationwide. But their achievement is more than symbolic.

Hoboken: Best for Singles
Hoboken simply buzzes with life. With easy access to public transportation and a plethora of restaurants and bars, Hoboken has been transformed from a blue-collar town to a bedroom community for young, professional singles.

Monroe: Best for Empty Nesters
Empty nesters flock to Monroe. The town has more active-adult developments than any municipality in the state, comprising 50 percent of the local housing stock. As a result, almost half the population is 55-plus.

Oakland: Best for Young Families
Located on the western edge of Bergen County, Oakland is woodsy and a bit remote, but its midsize homes, good schools and low crime rate make it popular with young families.

Upper Saddle River: New Jersey’s Most Affluent Town
Situated just south of the New York border, Upper Saddle River is a five-square-mile town whose residents—many of whom are doctors, Wall Street professionals and successful entrepreneurs—are the most affluent in New Jersey, with a median household income of $180,429.